Swing tray display stand



April 15, 1969 R. R. KUNS E AL SWING TRAY DISPLAY STAND Sheet Filed June 22. 1967 Fig. 2

INVENTORS 5 mm w f 0 n 0 RN BY WZM ATTORNEY April 15, 1969 R. R. KUNS ET AL 3,438,508-

SWING TRAY DISPLAY STAND Filed June 22. 1967 7 Sheet 2 of s INVENTORS Roger R. Kuns Nelson Orw/g WZ.M

ATTORNEY April 15, 1969 R, KUNS ET AL 3,438,508

swme TRAY DISPLAY STAND Filed June 22. 1967 Sheet 3 of 3 Fig. 5

Fig. 6

INVENTORS Roger R. Kuns Nelson Orw/g BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,438,508 SWING TRAY DISPLAY STAND Roger R. Kuns, Bellevue, and Nelson Orwig, Sandusky,

Ohio, assignors to West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 22, 1967, Ser. No. 648,068 Int. Cl. A47f 3/14, /11; A473 47/16 U.S. Cl. 211133 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Brief summary of invention This invention relates to a corrugated fibreboard merchandise display stand which uses the display trays as shipping containers, but, which can be assembled easily to provide an attractive, durable display for point of sales merchandising. The novel display stand including a collapsible base member, a riser card and the product carrying articulated multiple tray shelf is compact in size for shipping, yet, when assembled, serves to elevate the rearward rows of packages to permit ready visibility of both rearward and forward packages.

It is the usual custom to ship merchandise in boxes designed to Withstand the rigors of handling in transportation with additional material under separate cover for construction of the necessary display stand. However, with our invention, it is only necessary to erect the base member included in the shipper and then manually arrange the shipping/ display trays on the base member to effectively present the product for sale. The arrangement of the traysprovides maximum display area while utilizing a minimum of floor space. Our invention, therefore, provides a shipper which contains a collapsible base member that can be simply erected to support a combination shipping and display shelf which both retains the product and displays the product.

The unitary shipper includes a pair of articulated display shelves including the product, a collapsed base which supports the display shelves when erected and a riser card which contains advertising media, compactly arranged so that there are no dead-spaces during shipment. The display stand base incorporates a supporting flap arrangement to maintain the base in its erected condition, but for shipment is folded accordionwise with the upper part of each stepped side wall being folded down to present a smaller area. The preferred design for the articulated multiple tray display/ shipping shelves results in two L-shaped trays interconnected by a pair of hinge lines which permit 180 degree rotation as the trays are rotated from the nested position for shipment, to the separated position for display on the base member. When the trays are nested together and the product stored therein, the multiple tray shelf displays each form a boX for holding rows of the packaged product such as detergents or the like, in alignment and at the same level. These displays are then placed into the shipping container and require no additional preparation at the point of sale where they are set-up by simply swinging the two trays apart about the interconnected hinge lines. Due to their articulated connection, and, depending upon how the trays are loaded with the product one tray is swung away and down from the second tray,

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or, one tray is swung up and away from the second tray to separate the trays from the nested condition for display. The trays are then placed on the stepped stations provided by the base member to render the packages on both trays clearly visible and readily accessible.

Brie description of drawing FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the base is formed;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the assembled base made from the blank of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the articulated multiple tray display shelf is formed;

FIGURE 4 shows in perspective one of the multiple tray display shelves nested together for holding the product during shipment;

FIGURE 4(a) shows the two trays of the display shelf separated to an intermediate position;

FIGURE 4(b) shows the two trays fully separated in the display position;

FIGURE 5 shows in perspective an optional manner of nesting one of the multiple tray display shelves; and,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the completely assembled display, with the display trays separated from the nested condition disclosed in FIGURE 4.

The completed display stand of our invention com- Detailed description prises four elements including, a collapsible base, two articulated multiple tray display/shipping shelves, and a riser card. Each of the elements is preferably constructed from a corrugated fibreboard material and is cut and scored for easy and quick assembly at the point of sale. The base member is shown in blank form in FIGURE 1, and is formed from lower side wall panels 11, 12, 14, and 15, front wall 13, and rear walls 10, 16. A stitching or glue panel 17 is provided for closing the base in the erected condition. Each of the panels is separated by an appropriate fold line to allow the base to be folded accordionwise to result in a compact structure for shipping. Separate kick panels 18, 19 and overlapping kick panels 20, 21 are provided at the lower part of the base member to give the base some rigidity in the erected condition and also to provide space at the sides for approaching the base when set-up. The upper portion of the preferred base member comprises upper side wall panels 23, 24, 25, and 26, each of which are suitably cut to form when erected stepped display tray receiving stations. When erected as disclosed in FIGURE 2, there are four steps provided for holding a pair of multiple tray display shelves. The two more nearly horizontal steps, shown in FIGURE 2, each contain an anchor tab 28 which cooperates with an accommodating opening in one of the display trays for positioning the tray on the stepped portion. The base further has an upper supporting section fabricated from panels 29, 30 which fold back and up along fold lines 31, 32 to provide an additional support for the display trays in the display position. These two panels also provide structural support and rigidity to the erected base member because of the manner in which the panels interlock with the upper side walls 24, 25 and tabs 28 through their respective slots 33, 34. Finally, the upper part of the rear panels 22, 27 each contain slots 35 which cooperate with suitable slots in the riser card when the completed structure is assembled (FIGURE 6).

The multiple tray display/ shipping shelves are formed from a corrugated fireboard blank as illustrated in FIG- URE 3. The sheet of material is cut and scored for final assembly by the manufacturer prior to shipping to the customer. The customer then opens the shipper, packs the product to be sold in the pre-formed trays, reseals the shipper and forwards the entire package on to the retail store where the product is set-up for display. In the preferred embodiment, the display shelf is constructed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE 3 by initially folding the lower tray bottom 36 back, 180 degrees along the fold line 37 to lie contiguous with the bottom pad 38. In this position, the tabs on bottom 36 lie behind slots 41. The lower tray back panel 39 is then folded perpendicularly with bottom panel 36 and the small triangular panels 42 are folded forward so that they may later be tucked inside the lower tray side walls 43. Reinforcing panel is then folded forward 180 degrees to lie contiguous with panel 38 and these two panels are secured together. This fold in conjunction with an additional 90 degree fold forward at the rear of cut-out C, allows the small triangular panels 46 to be positioned alongside triangular panels 42 to be later inserted inside the lower tray side walls 43. These additional panels are incorporated into the lower tray side walls to give the lower tray its necessary strength and integrity. Each of the lower tray side wall panels 44 are then folded up to lie adjacent panels 42 and 46 and the side walls 43 folded over to encompass and retain the panels 42, 46 in position. In this position, the tab-like elements on side walls 43 lie in front of the tabs 40 on tray bottom 36 to be inserted into their respective slots 41 to frictionally hold the bottom tray together. Panels 42 each contain an elongated tab which when tucked inside the tray side walls 43, lies in front of tab 49 and aids in the securement of the parts of the lower tray. The lower tray outer side wall panels 44 serve to restrain the product in the upper tray when the trays are nested, and further gives the completed assembly a compact or integral appearance.

Assembly of the upper tray follows the same general pattern set out hereinbefore for the lower tray. However, the two trays because of their unique capability of being able to be alternately nested together to restrain the product during shipment, and swung apart to display the product at the point of sale, are articulated one to another by a pair of fold lines 47, 48. Fold line 47 is preferably slit scored and fold line 48 is scored and cut, however, any other suitable means may be used which provides a 180 degree movement about each fold line. Panels 49 and 50 respectively form the front of the dividing wall step and the rear of the dividing wall step when the blank is folded back along fold line 47, and, forward along fold line 48. Further assembly of the upper tray requires that the small triangular panels 51 be folded in so that their tabs 52 may be inserted in the respective slots 53. Panel 54 then becomes the bottom of the upper tray and panel 55 when folded perpendicular to bottom 54, comprises the outer portion of the upper tray back panel '56. The upper tray back panel is further reinforced by panels 57 which are folded inwardly to be tucked between panels 55 and 56' prior to folding panel 56 over adjacent panel 55. The

upper tray is then secured integrally together by inserting the tabs 58 on panel 56 in the respective slots 59 located on the fold line between panels 54 and 55. This completed assembly gives an articulated multiple tray display shelf constructed in the preferred manner.

Of course, because of the fact that the display shelf may be used in at least two configurations, the upper tray in one embodiment becomes the lower tray in the other embodiment. However, the construction remains the same and only the end use is changed.

FIGURES 4(a) and 4(b) show the preferred embodiment of the display shelf in the three distinct positions it occupies between the nested condition and the display condition. FIGURE 4 shows the upper and lower trays nested together but without the product. In this state, the front dividing wall step 49 and rear dividing wall step 50, which form the articulated connection between the two trays, are contiguous with one another. This is the condition in which the pre-packed product is shipped to the retail store. The retailer then need only remove the display shelf from the shipping container and place the rear portion on the shelf, or, in the preferred embodiment, the upper tray 51, 54, 56 on the second step of the base (FIGURE 2) on panels 24, 25, and subsequently pull the front portion of the shelf, or, lower tray out, and, slightly down to assume the intermediate condition shown in FIGURE 4(a). In this FIGURE the rear dividing wall step 50 has swung to a position parallel with upper tray bottom panel 54 and perpendicular to the front dividing wall step 49. Further movement down and back of the lower tray 36, 39, 43 into engagement with the first step of the base formed by panels 12, 14 and 30 completes the swinging movement of the trays and clearly displays the product in both the upper and lower trays. In this condition illustrated in FIGURE 4(1)), the front dividing wall step 49 and rear dividing Wall step 50 are parallel to one another and connected edge-toedge rather than side-by-side as in FIGURE 4. The lower tray 36, 39, 43 in this preferred embodiment has located in the bottom pad 38 thereof two slots 6% (FIGURE 3) which cooperate with the tabs 28 on the first step of the base member (FIGURE 2). A second articulated multiple tray display shelf would be positioned on the third and fourth steps of the base to form a complete unit.

FIGURE 5 shows the identical multiple tray display shelf turned degrees for use in the alternate or second embodiment position. In this instance the upper and lower trays are reversed and the previously mentioned bottom panels become back panels and vice versa. Note that in FIGURE 5, the upper tray comprises panels 36, 39, and 43 and the lower tray comprises panels 51, 54 and 56. In this configuration panel 55 of the blank shown in FIGURE 3 has a pair of slots 61 which cooperate with the tabs 28 on the base member to position and more or less secure the trays to the base. The procedure for assembling the respective trays on the base is different when the display shelf is used in the FIGURE 5 configuration. In this latter case the lowermost tray 51, 54, 56 is placed on the first step of the base and the uppermost tray 36, 39, 43 is swung up and back to rest on the second step of the base member. The unique articulation between the two trays permits this movement without disturbing the product located therein. A second display shelf would be positioned on the third and fourth steps of the base member in like manner to complete the assembly shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 6 shows that all rows of the product are clearly displayed and includes the riser card 62 which carries suitable advertising media.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim: a

1. A shipping container and display stand comprising, in combination, a collapsible base member having front, rear and side walls, the rear and side walls when extended rising above the front wall to form an open front display receiving section with the side walls providing a plurality of stepped display receiving stations, and, an articulated multiple tray display shelf, adapted to retain a plurality of packages for shipment in at least two nested trays, which are capable of being swung apart for display so that the separated trays may rest on the said display receiving stations of the base member.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the said nested trays are separated for display by swinging a first tray away and down from the second tray.

3. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the said nested trays are separated for display by swinging a first tray up and away from the second tray.

4. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the said articulated multiple tray display shelf comprises at least two L-shaped trays connected by a hinge means which permits degree rotation as the trays are moved from the nested position to the separated display position.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein the said hinge means comprises a front dividing wall step and a rear dividing wall step interconnected by a pair of hinges which permit 180 degree rotation as the trays are moved from the nested position to the separated display position.

6. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the said base member further has a supporting section hingedly attached to the said front wall thereof and adapted to fold inwardly of the shelf receiving section in interlocking engagement with the side wall steps.

7.- The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the side walls of said base member have at least enough display receiving stations to accommodate two articulated multiple tray display shelves.

8. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the separated trays of the multiple tray display shelf each have a pair of reinforcing panels which engage the side walls of said base member in the assembled condition.

9. A shipping container and display stand comprising, in combination, a collapsible base member, at least two articulated multiple tray display shelves and, a riser card, said base member having front, rear and side walls, the rear and side walls when extended rising above the front wall to form an open front display receiving section with the side walls providing a plurality of stepped display receiving stations, and a supporting section hingedly attached to said front wall adapted to be folded inwardly of the shelf receiving section in interlocking engagement with the lowermost side wall steps, said rear wall having receiving means for engaging and retaining the said riser card in an erect position, said articulated multiple tray display shelves each being formed by at least two L- shaped trays which retain in a compact, nested position a plurality of packages for shipment, and, which may be swung apart about an articulated hinge interconnection for display so that the separated trays may rest on the said display receiving stations of said base member.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein the separated trays of the multiple tray display shelf each have a pair of reinforcing panels which engage the side walls of the base member in the assembled condition.

11. An articulated multiple tray shipping and display shelf formed from a one-piece corrugated fibreboard blank comprising, a pair of L-shaped trays each having a bottom panel, a back panel and two triangular shaped side wall panels, said trays being connected together by a double hinge articulation means which permits the trays to be nested together during shipment, and, swung apart for display.

12. The articulated multiple tray shipping and display shelf of claim 11 wherein, the said shelf is formed by folding the lower tray bottom panel contiguous with the bottom pad, folding the lower tray back panel at right angles to the said bottom panel, folding the reinforcing panel contiguous with the bottom pad, folding the front dividing wall step forward and arranging the pairs of triangular panels connected to the said back panel and front dividing wall step to be inserted inside the lower tray side walls, folding the lower tray side wall panels to a position contiguous with the said triangular panels and securing the said triangular panels by folding the said side walls over and securing same to complete the lower tray; folding the rear dividing wall step contiguous with the front dividing wall step to form the double hinge articulation, and folding the upper tray side walls over into engagement with the upper tray bottom panel and folding the upper tray reinforcing panels inside the upper tray back panel portions to be secured integrally together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,166 11/1947 Fish et a1. 248-174 XR 2,801,754 8/1957 Dorfman 211 3,141,555 7/1964 Funk et al. 211-135 3,164,350 1/1965 Taub 248-174 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Clv X.R. 248-174; 206- 44 

